Chemical Facility Security and Safety Working Group
History
Responding to recent catastrophic chemical facility incidents in the United States, President Obama issued Executive Order 13650: Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security on August 1, 2013. The focus of the EO is to reduce risks associated with hazardous chemical incidents to owners and operators, workers, and communities by enhancing the security and safety of chemical facilities. A Federal Interagency Working Group led by the Assistant Secretary of Department of Homeland Security for the Office of Infrastructure Protection (as of November 16, 2018 Assistant Director for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency); Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); and the Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (now the Office of Land and Emergency Management), in coordination with the Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), oversees chemical facility security and safety. Through the analysis of the current operating environment, existing regulatory programs and stakeholder feedback, a consolidated Federal Action Plan was created to address five elements:
- Strengthening community planning and preparedness;
- Enhancing Federal operational coordination;
- Improving data management;
- Modernizing policies and regulations; and
- Incorporating stakeholder feedback and developing best practices.
A report to the President, entitled Actions to Improve Chemical Facility Safety and Security – A Shared Commitment, published May 2014, summarizes the Working Group's findings and lessons learned, challenges, and actions.